Innovate Mississippi announced that Startup Weekend Tupelo will take place September 27-29 at the Renasant Center for IDEAs. Startup Weekend is an intense 54-hour event powered by the Kauffman Foundation that operates worldwide and brings together entrepreneurs for a weekend of company creation.

Designed for entrepreneurs to pitch software or internet-based business concepts, Startup Weekends are geared toward serial entrepreneurs, programmers, developers, graphic artists and business-minded people to build and develop ideas.

Entrepreneurs will pitch their proposals to the group, who then votes for the most promising 10 to 15 ideas. The group will divide into small teams and focus on a single business idea, developing a proof of concept, demo or finished product. Mentors help fine-tune the idea into a “working company” with potential profits, and a panel of seasoned professionals evaluate each group’s created company and their chances of real-world success. The event concludes with an awards ceremony where the top three teams receive in-kind prizes from local service providers.

“Startup Weekend provides hands-on experience to entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground,” said Judd Wilson, director of small business development at the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo. “This 54-hour weekend will provide networking opportunities, education, skill building and valuable face-to-face time with entrepreneurs in the region. We are excited to be participating in Startup Weekend Tupelo, and continuing the mission of the Renasant Center for IDEAs – which is to assist and develop entrepreneurs.”

Startup Weekend Tupelo is currently looking for participants, financial and in-kind sponsors, and mentors to work closely with individual teams and provide feedback, constructive criticism and encouragement.

Startup Weekend’s mission is to provide a high-energy, collaborative environment that facilitates experiential education and meaningful connections. Participants also build long-lasting relationships and may even walk away with a job or an investment.

This event is funded in part by a grant from the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Program through Mississippi State University.

Startup Weekend is organized by the employees of Innovate Mississippi. Contact Tasha Bibb at tbibb@innovate.ms or visit www.tupelo.startupweekend.org for more information. Tickets include all events and meals for the weekend. Follow all Startup Weekend Mississippi events on Twitter via @SWmississippi or visit their Facebook and LinkedIn pages by searching Startup Weekend Mississippi.

Innovate Mississippi is a nonprofit organization with the mission to drive innovation and technology-based economic development for the State of Mississippi. Visit www.innovate.ms to learn more.